After The Fire, we can help you.
Each year, The West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service deals with over 4,000 fires, some 20% of which are in the home.
To us however, you are not just a statistic. The Service will have responded swiftly to whatever emergency has befallen you but we appreciate that, when our fire engines leave, you have to cope with the aftermath.
Fires in the home are traumatic and the brigade, as a firefighting and rescue service, will have done much to alleviate and limit the damage.
It is our hope that, in addition, the information produced in this web page will provide you with advice to enable you to deal with the immediate situation and a checklist to guide you to other agencies and sources of help.
If your accommodation is unusable
This is almost always the most difficult problem to resolve.
Try to arrange temporary accommodation with relatives or friends in the first intance until you can make more permanent arrangements .
If you are a council or housing association tenant, contact your district council's housing department or association .
Animals
Emergency accommodation provided by the local authority will not cater for animals.
Emergency assistance for animal accommodation can be obtained from the RSPCA.
POWER SUPPLIES
ELECTRIC:
If the internal electric supply has been affected, this will have been switched off by the firefighters.
Do not turn the supply back on until it has been checked by a qualified electrician.
If you require the electricity company to attend, a charge will be made for this service (unless the fire started in their equipment).
GAS:
If your gas supply or appliances have been affected by fire the fire Service or gas company will make the premises safe, by either turning off or disconnecting the supply. There is no charge for this service.
Do not turn the supply back on until the system has been checked by a qualified engineer.
WATER:
CHIMNEY FIRES
After a chimney fire, place a guard in front of the fireplace and leave the chimney to cool down for about 24 hours before re-lighting the fire, you should have your chimney swept as soon as possible. There is no charge to put out a chimney fire. More click here
VEHICLE FIRES
If your vehicle has been involved in a fire, it is your responsibility to move it from the roadway. If you are not a member of a breakdown organisation, the police may call out a local garage to remove the vehicle.
A charge will be made for this service. However, you can often claim this back on your vehicle insurance. It is not necessary to inform the police of a vehicle fire unless arson or a road traffic accident is involved. More click here
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Produced by West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.
Information Provider Paul Archer
Last Updated Monday July 19, 2004 12:13 PM
